Eleven unsung heroes

We are a quarter of the way through the season already and the league is starting to take shape as expected, with Real Madrid and Barcelona leading the way ahead of a chasing pack of around half a dozen ambitious European hopefuls. Beyond that, following the trend of recent seasons, there are at least a dozen clubs who could potentially be drawn into a relegation battle at some point during the campaign. In 2009-10 there were still at least half that many playing for their top flight status heading into the last couple of matches and I suspect that could be the case again come May.

As far as individuals go, there have been few surprises there either. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lead the goalscoring charts and stand out as the best two players in La Liga, just as they did last year. Iker Casillas has conceded the fewest number of goals (per minute played), Ronaldo has scored the most goals and provided the most assists, but what about the lesser known stars of the league who consistently perform to a high level without receiving the plaudits of the international household names? Below is a list of eleven under-rated players who have quietly gone about the business of starring for their respective teams this season without hogging column space.

Diego Alves - Goalkeeper (Almeria)

Diego Alves is one of the most under-rated players in La Liga. Although, granted, I was singing his praises after his performance at the Vicente Calderon last weekend, he doesn't get close to the recognition he deserves. At 25, the Brazilian is still very young for a goalkeeping and I am convinced he will go on to play for one of Europe's top clubs. In Spain his options may be slightly limited as most of the big teams already have excellent goalkeepers who have plenty of years left in them. Sevilla or Valencia could be possible destinations, though, as Andres Palop and Cesar are fast approaching 40, but it is just as likely that he'll move abroad. It is no secret that Manchester United and Arsenal are actively searching for goalkeeping alternatives and it would be no exaggeration to say that Alves is good enough to play for either English giant.

Andoni Iraola - Defender (Athletic Bilbao)

Andoni Iraola has been capped four times by Spain, which makes him something of an international veteran compared to most of the other players on this list. Iraola is one of the first names on the Athletic Bilbao team sheet and is one of a handful of players in that team - alongside Gorka Iraizoz, Fernando Amorebieta, Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente - who has earned himself an uncontested starting berth in an otherwise extremely competitive squad. Joaquin Caparros commands a group of young improving players and this team will go from strength to strength of the next couple of years if they can hang on to their best stars. Iraola possesses a good balance of technique and strength at right back and he is not afraid to get forward in support of the attack, as demonstrated by his powerful goal against Getafe on matchday nine.

Jose Angel - Defender (Sporting de Gijon)

Jose Angel is the only player mentioned here who is not an automatic starter for his club but he will change that shortly if he continues on his rapid path of development. Roberto Canella's injury problems at the start of the campaign have allowed Angel to play a key role so far in his preferred position at left back and, if newspaper reports are to believed, the under-21 international has already attracted attention from Manchester City's scouts with his confident displays. The Asturian defender is more comfortable on the flank but can deputise at centre back if necessary. It is that versatility, coupled with his natural defensive instincts, which make Jose Angel extremely valuable to Sporting manager Manuel Preciado.

Mateo Musacchio - Defender (Villarreal)

Mateo Musacchio is a future Argentina international in the making. He made his debut for River Plate at the age of 16 and now, at 20, he is already a regular at one of Spain's biggest clubs. Gonzalo Rodriguez expected to replace Diego Godin as the club's main centre back this season but the summer capture of Carlos Marchena and the blossoming of young Musacchio have left Rodriguez as third choice under Juan Carlos Garrido. Musacchio will learn a lot from Marchena but it is clear that his education has already come quite some way. Since he made his debut for the first team back in February - after being brought in temporarily as cover from Villarreal B - the Rosario-born defender has not looked back and the fact that he never returned to the reserve side is testament to both his quality and maturity.

Alberto de la Bella - Defender (Real Sociedad)

It is funny how football works out. Alberto de la Bella spent his formative years playing for various reserve sides until he was snapped up by Real Socidad in the summer of 2009 to replace the highly rated Xabi Castillo, who had been signed by neighbouring giants Athletic Bilbao. Castillo failed to establish himself with Athletic and is now third in the pecking order at left back behind Koikili and Jon Aurtenetxe. Meanwhile De la Bella quickly became first choice, helped Real Sociedad to promotion and is now attracting admirers in La Liga with some terrific performances, particularly at Anoeta where he has become a firm fans' favourite. The Catalan-born defender has been linked with a big money move to Sevilla but he has re-iterated his desire to sign a new contract in San Sebastian.

Derek Boateng - Midfielder (Getafe)

Derek Boateng's style of play resembles that of his better-known international team mate, Michael Essien. Boateng is a tough tackling, physically imposing central midfielder, whose composure on the ball and excellent passing authority make him ideal for a holding role in defensive midfield. Like Essien, however, Boateng is a player who attracted attention not for his conservative consistency but for the dynamic combination of speed, dribbling skills and attacking flair that used to terrorise defenders in Greece during his time with Panathinaikos. Boateng exhibits determined work-rate, strength, an excellent passing range and clever feet, making him the perfect all-round midfielder and, after several peripatetic years spent in Greece, Cyprus, Israel and an ill-fated spell in Germany, he has finally found his feet as one of the most consistent anchormen in La Liga.

Sergio - Midfielder (Levante)

Sergio Gonzalez Soriano is another player to have been capped by Spain, although his last international appearance was some five years ago now. After a decade at Deportivo La Coruna, during which time he revelled in his central midfield role while Depor were regular participants in the Champions League, it looked like Sergio's career was winding down when he was released by the Galician club this summer. A move to Levante, however, has revived his passion for the game and he has been one of the Valencia club's best players as they have surprised many with a competitive return to the top flight. It is still likely to be an arduous season for Luis Garcia Plaza's team but in Sergio they have a rich source of quality and experience. The Catalan's form has been excellent so far in 2010-11 and he has already chipped in with two goals from a withdrawn midfield position. 

Royston Drenthe - Midfielder (Hercules)

Royston Drenthe was one of the best signings of the summer, albeit only on loan. Any doubts about the Dutchman's quality, which understandably surfaced after three forgettable seasons spent well down the pecking order at Real Madrid, have been categorically dismissed after an electric start for Hercules this year. Drenthe has benefited from a permanent move into attacking midfield, where his new-found confidence and hitherto latent techincal quality has seen him replace Tote as the main play-maker in what is a very exciting team. Drenthe has always been quick, but not since his Feyenoord days has he had the freedom to express himself as he is now doing, linking the defence and attack and providing ammunition for the formidable forward pairing of Nelson Valdez and David Trezeguet.

Gonzalo "Chori" Castro - Midfielder (Real Mallorca)

Every summer Real Mallorca's financial restraints force them to cash in on their best midfield talent. Juan Arango, Jose Manual Jurado, Cleber Santana and Mario Suarez are now part of the club's history and, if the trend continues, Michael Laudrup will have some difficulty hanging on to Gonzalo "Chori" Castro come June. Having fought hard to wrestle Fernando Varela's place off him last year, Castro is now the undisputed star of this Mallorca team following the departure of Aritz Aduriz last summer and he has been justifying that mantle with some match-winning performances for the Balearic club in 2010-11, during which time he has registered three goals in eight appearances. Castro is injured at the moment but his work-rate and influence has set a good example to deputising youngsters like Emilio Nsue and Sergio Tejera, who one day may be forced to step into the Urugayan's shoes on a permanent basis.  

Jose Callejon - Forward (Espanyol)

If Jose Callejon can increase his goal economy he will become one of the best strikers in this league. Reared in the furtive environment of Real Madrid's youth ranks, he was once their B team's top scorer. So far he has been unable to translate that goal scoring pedigree to La Liga with Espanyol but his quality does shine through in a team full of exciting young talent. Cajellon's poor scoring record with Los Pericos can be explained in part by his change of position. The 23-year-old has always operated as a striker but now he finds himself out on the wing in Mauricio Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 formation. It may not lead to as many goals but, to be fair to Pochettino, he has recognised the fact that Callejon's pace and fantastic dribbling ability make him a nightmare for defenders when he has space to run at them, thus making him a formidable weapon when hugging the touchlines.

Diego Costa - Forward (Atletico Madrid)

Diego Costa was a big hit at Real Valladolid last season, emerging as by far their best player and the least deserving of the club's relegation back in May. Atletico Madrid activated a buy-back clause to re-sign the Brazilian striker during the summer, but there was a fear that his career would stagnate as he finds himself behind established stars Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero in the Colchonero queue. The initial signs, though, are that those fears a premature. Costa has been the most consistent Atletico forward so far as Forlan has not returned to top form and the partnership with El Kun looks as though it could blossom into something truly formidable. Unlike Forlan, who likes to drop deep in search of the ball, which clashes with Aguero's own similar tendencies, Costa is a striker who is happy to play on the shoulder of the last man and, despite just turning 22, he is strong enough to impose the sort of physical threat that strikes fear into the hearts of his markers.